Nonprofit news roundup for June 25, 2009

A new survey says YMCA has the most valuable nonprofit brand, followed by Salvation Army and United Way of America and American Red Cross, The New York Times reported June 23 (see charity brand story).

Washington-area charities’ reserves hurting, survey says

A report by the Urban Institute says over half of charities in the Washington, D.C., area had low operating reserves even before the start of the recession began, putting them at risk of service cuts in a time of sharply falling revenue, the Washington Post reported June 24 (see Washington charities story).

Cleveland Foundation’s endowment rebounds

After seeing its endowment drop 36 percent to $1.6 billion from $2 billion in 2008, the Cleveland Foundation says its portfolio has grown roughly $100 million so far in 2009, boosting assets to about $1.7 billion for the local grant-making agency, the oldest community foundation in the U.S., the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported June 24 (see Cleveland Foundation story.)

Britons admit to lying about giving to charity

Over two-thirds of Britons surveyed said they had crossed the street to avoid a charity collector, nearly half said they had lied about having change to donate, and over a fourth said they had told a charity worker that already had made a donation when they had not, Press Association reported June 23 (see British charity story).

Face-to-face fundraising results grow in Britain

A new survey says British charities secured 681,000 new donors through face-to-face fundraising efforts in 2008-09, up 16 percent from the previous year, with estimated pledges worth over 70 million British pounds, or nearly $115.7 million, Charities Aid Society reported June 23 (see British fundraising story).

Met lays off additional 74 employees

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City has laid off 74 employees and provided retirement packages to 95 others, The New York Times reported June 22 (see Metropolitan Museum story). Prior to the latest round of layoffs, the museum had closed 15 retail shops and laid off 127 merchandising employees.